How to access Mystery Gift in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Mystery Gift is available from the very beginning of Pokémon Sword and Shield, and you can find it by opening your X menu.

You can access Mystery Gift via the X menu.

From there select the option for Mystery Gift, it's the pink present, and this will open the Mystery Gift menu.

You will now have access to three different options:

Get a Mystery Gift

Get the Wild Area News

Take a Stroll with Poké Ball Plus

If your Nintendo Switch enters Sleep Mode while in any of the Mystery Gift menu, you'll loose connection.

This will return you to the main X menu, forcing you to manually return to whether you were in the Mystery Gift menu.

Get a Mystery Gift explained in Pokémon Sword and Shield

If you're looking to down a special gift, be it a pre-order bonus or a downloadable Pokémon, then 'Get a Mystery Gift' is the right option for you.

Selecting this option will send you to a second menu where you'll find five new options for you to choose from.

The first four consist of different ways to receive gifts, while the last option will inform you of which Mystery Gifts you've received.

The 'Get a Mystery Gift menu.'

Remember - if your Nintendo Switch runs out of battery or your disconnected from the Internet while downloading a gift, you may not be able to retrieve it again.

Always make sure that your Nintendo Switch has enough battery life and is securely connected to the Internet, before beginning a download.

Get via Local Communication

This will search for Mystery Gifts using the Local Communication connection.

This doesn't connect you directly to the Internet and works instead like the Y-Comm. If you are connected to the Internet, your Nintendo Switch will have to disconnect from its connection to use this function.

This screen will appear when you look for gifts using Local Communication.

Get via Internet

This option will connect you to the Internet. Once you're connected, a list of currently available Mystery Gifts will appear.

Select the gift you want from the menu and it will download onto your Nintendo Switch.

Finally, you'll see a list of what you download. This means that if you download a Pokémon, for example, then it will list which Pokémon you downloaded.

Receiving a very special Meowth using the Mystery Gifts Internet connection.

Get with Code / Password

This option will connect you to the Internet. Once you're connected, you'll be prompted to input your code or password for your gift.

After correctly inputting your code or password, you'll be shown an option for your gift.

Select it to confirm your download and watch as the gift arrives on your Nintendo Switch.

Finally, you'll be shown a list of everything that gift contains. This means, for example, if you download a special outfit, then it will contain a list of each individual clothing item for that outfit.

Input your code or password correctly to receive your gift.

Get Battle Stadium Rewards

By selecting this option you'll be able to retrieve any prizes you've won by defeating other players online in the Battle Stadium, which is accessible via the 'VS' option on the X menu.

Check Mystery Gifts

Here you'll find a list of all the Mystery Gifts you've received.

Scrolling up and down the list will allow you to review all the important information about the various Mystery Gifts you've downloaded.

This information includes:

The name of the Mystery Gift - e.g. Gigantamax Meowth

What the gift actually was - e.g. a Meowth with the ability to Gigantamax

The date and time when received this gift

Check Mystery Gifts lists all the gift you've received.

Get the Wild Area News explained in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Wild Area News updates the Pokémon Dens in your Wild Area to the latest spawn tables. This means if there is a limited time Gigantamax Pokémon currently available, updating your Wild Area News will allow them to appear.

Your Nintendo Switch must be connected to the Internet to update your Wild Area News.

Use Wild Area News to update your Pokémon Den spawns.

Remember - updating the spawns doesn't guarantee that the Pokémon will appear. You may find yourself having to refresh your Wild Area News multiple times after completing some Max Raid Battles.

Take a Stroll with Poké Ball Plus explained in Pokémon Sword and Shield

By selecting this option you can place one of your Pokémon from Sword or Shield in the Poké Ball Plus and take it for a lovely walk in the real world. Doing so will allow you to collect points, which can be swapped if for a variety of rewards.

To transfer a Pokémon into your Poké Ball Plus, select this option and press the Top Button or Control Stick on the Poké Ball Plus. This will connect it to your game and allow you to select which Pokémon you want to take with you.